Youngster doesn't like turnout??

Nocturnal

Nocturnal

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I have an unbroken 3yo who seems to prefer being in his stable the whole time to going out in the field. Until about 3 months ago he was living out 24/7 at the stud I got him from, but now he's at my yard and he goes out at night and comes in during the day.

When I turn him out, he'd quite happily turn straight back around and come back in. There isn't masses of grass in the field, but we put hay down. He'll still try and escape the field, though. He isn't way down the pecking order - about half way, so its not like he's being bullied by everything.

Can't figure out what his problem is. Any ideas?
 
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not really sure what to suggest except maybe watch him in the field for an hour or two. maybe he is getting bullied

it may just be that he is lazy and food is easier in the stable.
 
Tbh, he seems to chase the ones beneath him in the pecking order more than the dominant ones chase him. It could be that he's lazy, perhaps.

Amymay - 7 go out in the field at night, ages ranging from 3 (he's the youngest) to 15 (I think). Hay goes out in piles, I always put more piles out than there are horses, so there's always an 'ejection' pile.
 
There is clearly some argy bargy going on - which will be unsettling.

Personally I'd look to have him in a smaller group in which he feels less threatened.
 
Vicki_Krystal said:
He definatly isnt getting bullied.
I think he has just sussed that feed in buckets comes from the yard - not the field!
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Possibly, but he never gets fed until the following morning. I could understand him doing it once the hay's been eaten (if he's too lazy to forage for grass!), but its strange he's doing it when there's readily available hay to eat.
 
Maybe he just doesn't like going out at night. Things are much more scary in the dark, especially if you have hedges around the field with foxes etc rustling around. He is only a baby & may not be that confident.
 
sounds like insecurity to me, can you fence him off a bit for a couple of weeks so that he can get used to the others. That's what I do with mine, mind you I did have one jump into the yard when I was mucking out but that was before I had my new strategy!
 
Hmm, there was talk of splitting the fields and putting the horses in smaller groups. He did seem more settled when he was just out with my TB (TB bosses him around, but he doesn't seem to mind!).
 
Sounds like insecurity to me. I'm sure he would be better in a smaller group.
I would also try to put him out with a companion during the day, unless the horse is laminitis prone or the grazing is far too rich for horses, I can see no benefit to bringing in during the day. They miss out on all the vitamin D and feelings of well-being which most horses get from the sun.
 
He's thin skinned and gets covered in bumps from the flies, hence not leaving him out during the day. He won't keep a fly mask on, either. I think he'd be utterly distraught if I left him out during the day :p.
 
No OH for me! My TB can keep him company, but he's a gelding. They get on ok, though, and the youngster seems quite attached to him.

I think you're all right in that it's insecurity; last night he made an an attempt on the mare above him in the pecking order. He was swiftly put in his place, but he's obviously not clear on what that place is exactly. Hopefully we'll be sectioning the fields off, soon and he can go out in a smaller group.
 
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